A CHARITY which hands Christmas presents to around 700 of the poorest children in Charnwood has been left worried this year could be its last.

The Charnwood Christmas Toy Appeal says it has enough to cover the roughly £10,000 it needs to purchase presents this year, but is unsure what will happen after that.

It had applied to Charnwood Borough Council for money via the Growth Support fund, but that is designed for projects that would support economic growth, so the charity does not meet the criteria.

The report of the strategic director of housing, planning, regeneration and regulatory services, Eileen Mallon, to Charnwood Borough Council’s cabinet says of the appeal: “In previous years funding has been provided by local trust funds, but it appears that those supporters have declined assistance.”

The Charnwood Christmas Toy Appeal has, for more than 26 years, been giving children something to smile about on Christmas morning.

But its chair Ruth Townsend says it has had no money or donations made to it at all so far this year.

She says there is enough to again provide nearly 700 presents this Christmas, but is unsure what will happen after that.

“It’s getting really difficult now to find money,” she said. “There’s so many charities and everyone is trying to get funds.

“There’s been no money this year where previously we’ve been helped by trusts and companies.

“With no funding, we’ll be okay this year as we’ve got money left over from last year, but there’s nothing after that.

“We’ve been fortunate as over the last five or six years we’ve been able to get toys at a good price via my husband Ian Townsend who is a wholesaler.

“He’s been able to offer us deals which has allowed us to save money and have some leftover, but this year he has had nothing at all so far.”

A number of other groups help the toy appeal out every year in terms of doing deals for stock bought or through volunteering manpower needed to wrap and deliver the hundreds of parcels.

They include the likes of Tescos in The Rushes, Asda at Thurmaston, Boots, Wilkinson’s, Loughborough High School and Birstall Methodist Church.

“I think a lot of our problem is that we are only really active a few months a year,” continues Ruth. “We seem to be getting more children in need of presents.

“We’d love to hear from any local firms or groups who can help us out going forward.”

Anybody who may be able to help Charnwood Christmas Toy Appeal is asked to ring either 07836 503250 or email